Get Your Business Involved…

Welcome to the website of the most famous chamber of commerce in the world. Hollywood is a dynamic community and it has a dynamic chamber of commerce.

Approximately 24 times a year, the Chamber inducts a celebrity into the internationally renowned Hollywood Walk of Fame, which is broadcast LIVE around the globe. As the originator of the Walk of Fame, the Chamber has administered it on behalf of the City of Los Angeles for more than 50 years. Created as a marketing attraction for the community, the Hollywood Walk of Fame has become one of the most successful marketing ideas ever devised by a chamber of commerce.

However, the activities of the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce go far beyond the Walk of Fame. We are a business organization working to make Hollywood a better community for both businesses and residents.

We work to create a strong economy by helping businesses in their dealings with the public sector. Whether it is a large company or a small business, we are there to assist in resolving the issues that affect their ability to conduct business.

We work to promote the community, not just through the Hollywood Walk of Fame, but through numerous other activities, such as Hollywood Expo that provides Southern Californians an opportunity to visit Hollywood and take advantage of great offers. We pitch Hollywood stories to the press all year, but especially at our Awards Media Information Center, that we staff during the week prior to the Academy Awards.

We provide great networking opportunities through our Business After Hours Mixers, our Speed Leads, our President’s Luncheons and numerous educational seminars such as our monthly Tech101 Series.

We represent the interests of business with government, by speaking out at numerous hearings, writing letters and lobbying on issues that impact our businesses and by making trips to Washington, D.C. and Sacramento. We monitor the status of important legislative initiatives and keep our members informed on how they can make a difference.

We give back to the community through our Hollywood Chamber of Commerce Community Foundation that has given out more than $750,000 to Hollywood nonprofit groups since it was formed.

This is a great organization with which to be involved. Find out for yourself by exploring our website and learning about the many activities of the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce.

Mission of the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce

The Mission of the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce is to promote and enhance the business, cultural and civic well-being of Hollywood.

To accomplish this mission the Chamber will act at the local, state, and federal levels of government to develop and support specific proposals for action, and oppose legislative and regulatory efforts that do not support these principles.

History of the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce

The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce is a 501c6 organization. Click here for W9 form.

The Hollywood Chamber was formed in October 1921 to replace the old Hollywood Board of Trade. It consists of owners, managers, presidents and other key representatives from a spectrum of businesses and organizations around the Hollywood community.

Many significant accomplishments can be credited to the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce since its inception. For example, the Hollywood Sign and the Walk of Fame exist today due to the efforts of the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce. In 1986, the Chamber was the leading proponent of the need for a Hollywood Municipal Courthouse, which opened in 1986. In 1997, the Chamber launched its new Hollywood Community Foundation, which has awarded more than $350,000 in grants to Hollywood nonprofit agencies to date. In 2000, a project spearheaded by the Chamber to designate signs identifying 46 historic markers at a cost of $250,000 in Hollywood was completed. In 2005, the Chamber worked on legislation to create a Hollywood Statistical Area that would require the reporting of demographic data on the community.

Significant Achievements

October 1921

The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce was formed to replace the old Board of Trade. A five-day membership drive resulted in 2,517 members. The first order of business for the new organization was to raise funds for the grading and installation of 20,000 seats to create the Hollywood Bowl.

1932

The Santa Claus Lane Parade was first sponsored by the Chamber. In 1978, the parade was given a new look, renamed the Hollywood Christmas Parade and grew to national prominence as the nation’s largest celebrity parade with national television distribution for the first time.

1942

To aid the World War II effort, the Chamber donated its metal Santa Claus Lane Christmas Tree decorations to Uncle Sam. Each tree decoration was 16 ft. tall with 160 lights and weighed 750 pounds.

1949

The Chamber entered into an agreement with the Department of Recreation and Parks to repair and rebuild the Hollywood Sign and to remove the “land” so that it would spell “Hollywood”. The cost was $4,000. A second restoration was done by the Chamber in 1973.

1950s

When the Hollywood Freeway was being designed by the State Division of Highways, plans called for only one Hollywood off-ramp. After intense lobbying by the Chamber, the State agreed to provide eight Hollywood ramps.

1953

The idea for a Hollywood Walk of Fame was generated by Chamber members and a committee was formed to pursue the idea. Following a vote by property owners to create an assessment district, the Walk was installed in 1960. In 1962, the L.A. City Council appointed the Chamber as the institution to handle additions to the Walk of Fame.

1972

The Chamber recommended Vermont Ave. as the most appropriate route for a Los Angeles subway to the valley. It was not until 1985, after an underground explosion in the Wilshire area, that the transportation agency saw the error of its ways and adopted the route recommended by the Chamber.

1974

Following strong lobbying efforts by the Chamber, Caltrans widened the Hollywood Freeway from Hollywood Blvd. to the Pilgrimage Bridge to eliminate a major bottleneck.

1978

The Hollywood Sign had deteriorated to such a level that it could no longer be rehabilitated, The Chamber formed a “Save the Sign” Committee and raised $250,000 in 32 days to completely replace and rebuild the Sign.

1985

The Chamber raised $150,000 to pay for a feasibility study to create a redevelopment district in Hollywood.

1986

The Chamber was the leading proponent of the need for a Hollywood Municipal Courthouse, which opened in 1986.

1992

The Chamber lobbied successfully for City funding of private security patrols on Hollywood Blvd.

1995

The Chamber raised $62,000 to fund a study to create a business improvement district on Hollywood Blvd. The Chamber worked with Councilmember Goldberg and the Hollywood Entertainment District was successfully initiated in 1996.

1996

The Chamber hired a publicist and launched a campaign to change the media’s perception of Hollywood. As a result, numerous positive stories were printed on the Hollywood renaissance.

1997

The Chamber launched its new foundation to give back to the community. To date, more than $250,000 in grants have been awarded to Hollywood nonprofit agencies.

1998-99

The Chamber acted as the lead agency in organizing community support to testify at public hearings in support of long-sought projects at Hollywood & Highland, Sunset & Vine, and the CineramaDome Entertainment Center. Each of these projects was built.

1999

The Chamber lobbied hard for passage of AB1695 (Knox), which was very effective in reducing pimping and prostitution on public sidewalks.

2000

A project spearheaded by the Chamber to erect 46 historic markers at a cost of $250,000 in Hollywood was completed.

2001

A Hollywood tourism promotional video was completed by the Chamber. The project was funded by the Hollywood Sign Trust.

2002

The Chamber organized its first media information center to assist with press coverage of Hollywood in connection with the Academy Awards.

2003

The Chamber launched a new website, Explorehollywood.com, to promote Hollywood tourism.

2004

The Chamber commissioned a study to convince the Motion Picture Academy that Hollywood should be the home for their proposed museum.

2005

The Chamber worked on legislation to create a Hollywood statistical area that would require the reporting of demographic data on the community.

Contact Us

Hollywood Chamber of Commerce
6255 Sunset Blvd, Ste 150
Hollywood, California 90028
Phone: 323-469-8311
Fax: 323-469-2805
Email: info@hollywoodchamber.net